‘Shubho Bijoya’. So there Durga Pujo is over and this is how we wish each other on Bijoya Dashami, the tenth day of Durga Pujo, the day the goddess supposedly returns to her abode in Kailash.
The day of ‘Bijoya Dashami’ you bid adieu to Maa Durga offering her sweets and sindoor. Before bidding adieu to the goddess, the ladies assemble near the idol, apply vermilion on her feet or forehead and then smear vermillion on each other. This is a part of the last celebration before the goddess is taken for immersion.
Back home from the mandap you touch your elder’s feet, embrace your peers, bless the little ones and then do what Bengalis love most. Eat. You eat sweets, nimkis and narus, you eat more to forget the sorrow that Maa Durga has just left.
So it is yet another year to welcome the mother goddess once again. One more year of the triumph of good over evil, positivity over despair. Waiting for another year of ‘adda’, endless pictures of the goddess and infinite selfies.
But, like the sudden moment of dullness on a Sunday evening when you realize that Monday is just a few hours away, the period of Bisarjan is a similar feeling with the festive hangover fading away and coping with the realization that Durga Puja is finally coming to an end.
Now it is no easy deal coming to terms with reality after a week-long frenzy, after all, us Bengalis set our life-calendar according to Pujo.
People are in grief and gloom because Maa Durga finally departs but then the hope remains and does not die like the pattern of human existence. The divine spirit dormant in us will certainly show up with return of Maa Durga, in the coming year. ‘Asche bochor abar hobe!’
This is to say that at the end of the Pujas, as Bongs bid farewell to the goddess in tears, certainly they have a feeling that the divine mother is smiling at them. A painted smile though, yet it is all about forgiveness and blessings.
West Bengal government issues special passes to tourists for Durga Puja visit
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The West Bengal government for the first time has come up with special passes for tourists to enable them to visit all Durga Puja pandals in and around the city.
The state tourism department has issued the 'Sharodotsav 2017 special guest passes' for the Pujas and the Red Road carnival on October three, a tourism department official told PTI today. Each pass, depicting the face of goddess Durga, will enable one person to visit all Durga Pujas being held in Kolkata and its neighbouring Salt Lake City and Howrah district besides the October-3 carnival.
The pass will be valid from September 23 to October 3. "We want to publicise the Durga Puja which is the biggest festival in the world. We want to show to the world what Durga Puja is all about. And it is probably also the biggest food festival in the world. So for the first time we have planned to showcase it," the official said.
In fact, the tourism department has contacted all hotels, starting from top five-star facilities to budget hotels which are preferred by foreign tourists, he said. The Consulates in the city have also been provided with these passes, he said. Last year the tourism department had tried to woo foreign tourists for the Durga Puja carnival on the Red Road with poor response.
"This year we do not want to take any chances and hence the passes have been prepared. All the hotels in the city have been asked to provide the passes to their guests. Foreign guests have shown immense interest in it and we are getting calls from hotel authorities for more passes," he said.
Budget and small hotels in south Kolkata's Sudder Street have also been interested in the passes, he said. "We are also getting requests from the Consulates for more passes as they have a good number of guests visiting West Bengal at this time of the Durga Puja festival. We have adequate passes for them," he said.
The state tourism department has also set up a counter at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport to draw attention of the visitors. The tourism department is also planning to bank on the the FIFA U-17 World Cup matches scheduled in the city.
"Team members and officials will start arriving on the city from this weekend and early next week. We are planning to tap them at the airport. We'll distribute passes to the FIFA officials. That will earn us a huge mileage," the official said. "We are hopeful that this year it will be a success and in the coming years we'll make it bigger. We hope for the best," he said.
Durga Puja 2017: All you need to know about Durga Puja’s 5-day events.
Mumbai: Durga Puja is considered as auspicious day as it is celebrates the victory of good over evil. It is believed that on this day Maa Durga has killed the demon Mahishasura. Durga Puja 2017 will start from September 26 and end on September 30 and, be it Bengal, Assam or Maharashtra, the festival will be celebrated with great fervour with slight differences here and there. Every city will have brightly decorated pandals with varied themes and spectacular Durga Maa idols.
Take a look at the five-day events, and what exactly they mean
MAHASHASHTI: 26th SeptemberOn this day, Maa is welcomed with much fanfare. In the evening, the Kulo is decorated with Paan, Sindur, Alta, Sheela (stone), Dhaan etc..and amidst the beats of Dhaak and sound of Shaankh, Maa is welcomed… This is called Amontron and Adhivas – Maa’s Bodhon…Maa is being welcomed.
MAHASAPTAMI: 27th SeptemberOn this day the Kalash (Earthen Pot) is placed with a green Coconut and Mango Leaves . This is surrounded on all sides by a red thread and tied. This is called KALASH STHAPAN. The Kalash is an earthen Pot because Maa’s Murti is made of Ganga clay and Maa’s PRAAN (or life) is concentrated in the Pot. So the Pot is the symbol of Maa. The Puja starts with praying to Ganapati, followed by prayers to Maa. Another name of Maa Durga is NABA PATRIKA, which means nine trees i.e. Banana tree, Kochu tree, Haldi tree, Jayanti tree, Branch of Bel tree, Dalim tree (pomegranate) are tied together. The double Bel fruit is tied to the Banana tree. This is then taken to a river bank or sea and given a bath. When it is brought back it is draped in a white and red sari with sindur and it now looks like a married lady with her head covered. This is called KOLA BAHU. Many have a misconception that KOLA BAHU is wife of Ganapati but actually she is Maa Durga or Naba Patrika.. Ganapati’s mother
MAHA SNAN:On this day Maa Durga is given a bath. First a vessel is placed in front of the Murti; a mirror is kept in the vessel, so that the reflection of Maa is seen in the mirror. The Priest applies Haldi and Mustard oil on the mirror, as though they are applying it on Maa before the bath. In earlier times when there was no soap, haldi and mustard oil were used for having bath. The Pujari puts different kinds of water, i.e. Coconut water, Chandan, Ganga jal, Sugar cane juice, water from seven holy seas to give her bath. During this time, mud from every region, as well as mud from Prostitute’s door is very essential. After bath the Pujari puts dhaan- durba and new sari with Maa’s name written on the mirror which is then placed on the Bedi (the place of worship).
PRAN PRATISTHA:This means bringing life into the mirror. The Pujari takes Kusha and flowers in the right hand, and touches Maa from head to foot and with Mantra Path life is brought into the Murti, Mirror and Kalash.
MAHA AGAMAN:Every year Maa comes either on a Palki or an Elephant or a Boat or a Dola (Swing), or a Horse etc. This Bengali year, Goddess Durga’s arrival on a boat (nauka) signifies natural gifts like good harvests but also floods. Maa Durga’s gaman (departure) – on a horse signifies devastation as was the case in the early days after war.
Welcome:The puja to welcome Maa is done with 16 items – Ashan Swagatam [ Welcome ], Paddyo [ Water To Wash The Feet ], Argho, Achmoniyom, Madhu Parkam , Purnar Achmaniyam, Abharan [ Shringar], Sindoor, Gandha [ Scent ], Pushpa[ Flower], Pushpa Mallya [ Garland] , Billo Patra [Bel Leaf] , Billopatra Mala[ Garland Of Bel Leaf], Dhoop, Deep, Kajal, Naibiddo, Bhog And Mishti [Sweet], Paan, Supari.
PUSHPANJALI [PRAYER OFFERING]:Puspanjali means offering prayers at Maa’s feet to give everyone long life, fame, good luck, health, wealth, happiness. The devotees request Maa to protect them from all evil, sadness, greed & temptations.
MAHA ASHTAMI PUJA: 28th SeptemberMaa is now Maha Gauri- The Puja starts with Mahasnan & Maha gauri puja. The Puja is done to give Maa the strength of the 64 Yoginis. This is a Puja of 9 pots. Then the weapons of Maa are worshipped.
SHANDHI PUJA:This is the puja when Ashtami Puja ends and Navami Puja begins, so the name Shandhi puja. This is considered to be the most vital time, meeting (shandhi) of Ashtami and Navami puja. The duration of this Puja is 45 minutes. At this moment Maa is CHAMUNDA.
Pushpanjali: Prayer offeringBhog is offered which consists of fruits and sweets are offered to Maa, followed by “NEET BHOG” , consisting of Rice, Ghee, Dal, Fried Vegetables, Chutney and Payesh. This prasad is later distributed amongst the devotees which is called KANGALI BHOJAN.
At this time 108 diyas are lit and 108 lotus are offered to MaaThere is a famous story that Lord Ram prayed to Maa Durga offering 108 lotus at her feet in order to defeat Ravan. But to his surprise he found one lotus missing, to replace it, he wanted to sacrifice his eye and pray to Maa.. at that moment Maa appeared in front of him and stopped him..returning the missing lotus to him. She then blessed him for his “VICTORY”.
MAHA NAVAMI PUJA: 29th SeptemberOn this day, Maa is SIDDHI DHATRI. This Puja starts with Ganapati Puja and then puja of all the other DEV and DEVIS are performed..followed by Maha Snan of Maa.
BIJOYA DASHAMI:- 30th SeptemberOn this day Maa had defeated and killed Mahishashur.
DEVI PUJA:- bhogBhog with curd, honey and milk is offered to Maa.. this is called CHARANAMRIT. The pujari sitting on the Asan takes a flower near the sacred pot and keeps it in the Northern direction because Maa is from KAILASH.Then the pujari takes the sacred mirror which was on the vessel and performs the ritual of Visharjan. This is the same mirror which was used to welcome Maa because her reflection is on the mirror.
SINDUR UTSAV:The married ladies apply sindur on Maa’s forehead and offer sweets after which all the other ladies apply sindur on each other’s forehead. This is followed by KANAK ANJALI when Maa is departing back to her husband’s abode.
VISHARJAN:-During the Visharjan of the Murti, all the devotees either go to a river bank or sea and immerse the Murti in the water.
SHANTI JAL: –The sacred pot is brought back from the river/sea filled with the water where the Murti is immersed. Then the pujari chants the Mantra and sprinkles water with the help of mango leaves on the head of all the devotees for peace and happiness.
Durgoutsov Sports Meet at KVSDPS !
Children's and Many Participants Enjoying the Competition.
We have a Great Prize Distribution Ceremony
to be Held on Nabami Evening.🏃🚵⛹🚴
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